sleep through
B1Informal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To remain asleep despite something (like a noise or event) that would normally wake someone.
To fail to wake up for an intended purpose or to be completely unaware of a significant event due to being asleep.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A transitive phrasal verb (requires an object). The object is typically the disturbance or the event (alarm, noise, storm) or the time period (the night, the morning). It implies a level of deep sleep or heavy sleeping.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or structure. Minor preference variations in typical collocates (e.g., 'alarm clock' vs. 'alarm').
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. Can imply fatigue, a need for sleep, or simply being a heavy sleeper.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] slept through [Direct Object: event/noise][Subject] slept through [Direct Object: time period]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sleep like a log”
- “Dead to the world”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except informally: 'I'm sorry I missed the call; I slept through my alarm.'
Academic
Very rare in formal writing.
Everyday
Very common in personal narratives and casual conversation.
Technical
Used in sleep studies or medical contexts to describe sleep depth or disorders.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He slept right through the burglar alarm.
- Don't tell me you slept through the entire film!
American English
- She slept through her alarm clock again.
- I can sleep through a hurricane.
adverb
British English
- (Not typically used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not typically used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not typically used as an adjective)
American English
- (Not typically used as an adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby slept through the night.
- I slept through my favourite TV programme.
- I'm amazed you slept through that loud thunderstorm.
- He was so exhausted he slept through his two morning alarms.
- Despite the hotel's central location, we managed to sleep through the city's nightly cacophony.
- She has the uncanny ability to sleep through any kind of political debate on the radio.
- The sedative was so potent that the patient slept through the entire surgical procedure.
- Historical accounts suggest he slept through the pivotal battle, oblivious to the cannon fire just miles away.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine sleeping THROUGH a loud concert – the sound goes THROUGH the air, but you sleep straight THROUGH it.
Conceptual Metaphor
SLEEP IS A BARRIER (The event cannot penetrate the barrier of sleep).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'спать через'. The correct equivalent is 'проспать' (+ accusative case for the event) or 'проспать мимо'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively (INCORRECT: 'I was so tired, I just slept through.' CORRECT: '...slept through the noise.').
- Confusing with 'sleep in' (which is intentional/unplanned late waking).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'sleep through' typically imply?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Oversleep' means to sleep longer than intended, often causing lateness. 'Sleep through' focuses on not being awakened by a specific event or noise, which may *cause* you to oversleep.
No, it is a transitive phrasal verb. It always requires an object (what you slept through).
It is neutral but most common in informal and everyday contexts. It is rarely used in very formal writing.
No, it can refer to any event, period of time, or stimulus during which one remains asleep (e.g., a storm, a meeting, the morning, a phone ringing).